Object Details
Culture
Indian
Date
20th century
Medium
carved and assembled wood with blue, yellow, green, red pigments
Dimensions
12 1/4 x 8 1/4 inches (31.1 x 21 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Sarita Hopkins Weeks, in memory of her mother, Sara Sessions Hopkins
Object
Number
81.040.035
This portable shrine, devoted to Vishnu, would have been carried by the Kavadiabhat, a sect of Hindu(…)
This portable shrine, devoted to Vishnu, would have been carried by the Kavadiabhat, a sect of Hindu priests who travel to small or remote villages to share religious education with villagers who do not have ready access to a local temple.As an avatar of Vishnu, Rama and his story would be included in the depictions on the shrine, as are further illustrations relating to Vishnu’s many incarnations. Prominent among the Ramayana scenes is Rama and Lakshmana battling the multi-headed Ravana in the open panel at left. Below, monkeys and bears represent Hanuman’s army that aided Rama in his defeat of Ravana and rescue of Sita.
